Hello Today multiple threads appeared with a quote from the TSC 3rd party dev ChrisTrains, citing "SBB modified all the license agreements with developers of models for all train simulator games. I don’t know if anyone really knows what happened to cause them to do this, but the short version is this: for me to remain legal with my SBB license, I am now forbidden from including anything other than than the most basic driving functions, in and model that has anything to do with Swiss rail operators. (...) But the wording of the new license agreement has less to do with specific systems in the train, and more to do with a general requirement that someone cannot learn how to fully start and operate any train on the Swiss network, simply from a simulation game. Specifically they require that no information screens are accurate or functional (in terms of menus, buttons etc), and that only accelerating and braking be allowed by the players." https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/sbb-and-train-simulators.83549/#post-874636 https://rail-sim.de/forum/thread/41891-sbb-wants-to-kill-sequrity-systems-in-simulations/ This wont affect RhB routes Like Bernina ( i hope), but now we can all wave goodbye to swiss mainline content in general. What happens with Luzern is uncertain i think
There is already a Thread on this Topic https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...es-on-swiss-content-in-train-sim-world.83548/
I find this quite disturbing and disappointing. Even if you would know by heart all the procedures in order to successfully start a train you need A a key to activate a cab (and you don't get this from Ebay) B the dispatcher to make all your signals green and set any switches, unless you want a very short ride thill the first red signal triggers the emergency stop. You actually have more chances to hijack a plane and take off with it, something that also occurred in real life, than actually start a train and go for a pleasure ride on modern infrastructure. I quite understand that some countries are afraid of possible terrorist activity, but the problem lies somewhere else not in simulators.
There are other possible scary possibilities, though, such as a train being commandeered after having had its legitimate driver incapacitated. It sucks, but I get that it's the job of security officers to anticipate as many tragic scenarios. In a similar vein it seems pretty clear in France that authorities don't want to see the kind of cab ride videos where you can see how the operator interacts with the commands. We live in dark times.
I have a feeling this will become more and more common, sadly. Whatever the advertising benefits for TOCs, they're just not worth any potential legal liability. So, i think future train sims will lean more into the territory of fictional/unbranded products.
It feels like Swiss is quite strict with this. And this could possibly come from politics side rather than SBB themselves. Politics wouldn't have those insights whats really happening in the Simulators and on the Trains regarding the operations but they are mostly concerned with anything that could possibly be a thread. SBB might see this differently but is hand-held in this Situation. Maybe there is a way to find compromises. Afaik LIRR 2.0 had similar issues with the TOC but i think the solution found was legitimate. You still have to operate certain aspects of the train but those aren't necessarily like in the real train. So if you would want to hijack one, you probably would fail miserably. In the Sim it feels still authentic (as long as you aren't a real driver who had the actual knowledge). The obvious fear is of course that this will affect other countries sooner or later. Imagine Deutsche Bahn starts restricting those aspects aswell. But i would also assume that Deutsche Bahn is aware of Simulators like Zusi, TSC and TSW, for them its also quite good advertising im sure. So as long as all parties have interests that are represented and the right compromises are found, i assume we will have official content. Think about the Expert 101, this wouldn't have happend if officials from Deutsche Bahn wouldn't like the Idea of Train Simulators in the first place. Swiss might be just a really strict example.
They could also ban flight simulators. There are also security systems. Finally, we will be grateful for the BUS simulator. From my point of view, your decision is stupid. If someone steals a train, it's the operator's fault for not properly securing their equipment against misuse. The simulators are not to blame.
Not to mention that other than needing keys and stuff, there are usually derailers and diverting switches to ensure nothing can get into the main tracks without permission from the dispatchers (especially when coming from depots and sidings, which is where you would usually find parked locomotives) even when driven by a real driver. This whole thing is just security through obscurity, which barely even works against someone who is even remotely serious about his malicious act. Not to mention the massive overreach that is having to take down or modify already published content due to a licensing change.
